French Apple Cake

This French apple cake is easy to make and full of fresh apple flavor.

I love French desserts. I’ve never been to France, but when I go, I’m just going to eat non-stop. French croissants and baguettes for breakfast, macarons, and eclairs for snacks; I could go on and on.

French desserts always seem to have such a sophistication to them. So, when I came across this French apple cake by Marie-Helene, which was published in Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table*, I knew I would have to check it out.

I had a few too many apples laying around so it was the perfect time for cake making.

Apple cakes are usually pretty easy to put together, and this one was no exception. Even though the cake was easy to make, I made one little booboo. Can you tell? Maybe if you’ve seen some other versions of Marie-Helene’s French apple cake…

I added too many eggs! The eggs were listed right before the number of apples in the ingredient list. And so instead of reading 2 eggs, I read 4. Double the amount. I think it made the batter a little denser, but it still tasted good. But looking at other cakes, my crumb doesn’t look nearly as tender. I also feel like I added too many apples even though I followed the recipe and put in four. Four apples chopped up is a lot of apples.

The cake is great, though, and really easy to make. What I like best is that you can use a variety of apples to make it so it can have a unique flavor depending on the varieties you choose.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Peeled and cored apples
• Large eggs
• Sugar
• Dark rum
• Pure vanilla extract
• Melted unsalted butter

Recipe Steps

Preheat the oven to 350°F and center a rack in the oven. Butter an 8-inch springform pan (I lined mine with parchment paper). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and put the springform pan on it. Set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl. Cut the apples into chunks and set them aside.

Beat the eggs in a bowl with a whisk until foamy. Add the sugar and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the rum and vanilla.

Whisk in half of the flour mixture. Once it’s incorporated, add half of the melted butter, followed by the remaining flour mixture and butter. Mix in between additions so you have a smooth, thick batter.

Fold in the apple chunks and then pour batter into prepared 8” springform pan.

Bake the apple cake at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack and cool for five minutes.

More Easy Cakes with Fruit

• Cherry Cake
• No-Bake Banana Cake
• Strawberries and Cream Mug Cake
• Blueberry Cobbler Dump Cake
• 4 Ingredient Apple Cake

*Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links. Much like referral codes, this means I earn a small commission if you purchase a product I referred (at no extra charge to you).

French Apple Cake

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

This cake is easy to make but looks and tastes fancier than a regular apple pie.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tps baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 4 large apples it's suggested you use 4 different kinds
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp dark rum
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 8 tbsp unsalted butter melted and cooled

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8 inch springform pan with parchment paper. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and put the springform pan on it.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl.
• Peel and core the apples. Cut the apples into 1 inch chunks.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until foamy. Add in the sugar and whisk until incorporated. Whisk in the rum and vanilla. Whisk in half of the flour mixture. Then add in half of the melted butter. Whisk until smooth. Add in the remaining flour and whisk until smooth. Then add in the remaining butter and whisk until smooth.
• Fold in the apples with a spatula. Pour batter into prepared pan. Use spatula to spread it out to make it even.
• Bake cake for about 50-60 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool before cutting and serving.

Notes

• This recipe is Marie-Helene's Apple Cake published in Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table*, recipe found on Two Peas and Their Pod
• *Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links. Much like referral codes, this means I earn a small commission if you purchase a product I referred (at no extra charge to you).

The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Mention @KirbieCravings and tag #kirbiecravings!